Emeritus Board
Patricia O'Connell
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, where she spent her early years, Patricia migrated to San Antonio from Mexico. After studying at Marymount Junior College, now Marymount University, in Arlington, Virginia, she enrolled in the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City. For the next twenty–three years she lived and worked in Central and Northern Mexico. In fall of 1974, she accepted a position at the UNAM Extension Campus in San Antonio as sub-director, and moved to San Antonio with her family. In December of 1975, she was named to the newly created position of Director of International Relations and Marketing for the City of San Antonio, working with the newly formed San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. When she accepted a position as marketing director for a French hotel corporation, she relocated to Houston and was in Houston over 5 years working with various national and international hotel chains. Upon returning to San Antonio she was hired to design and implement a week-long festival in downtown San Antonio. Later she became Director of Congregational Development for the The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. After that she established herself as an independent consultant outsourcing her services in many areas of expertise. Patricia continues to work and be actively involved in the community. She has been involved in the development of the SACIV since its inception. Patricia is the mother of six, grandmother of thirteen and great grandmother of eleven, which she considers to be her greatest achievement.